bushnell



Sept. 13, 1932- M. a. BUSHNELL PAPER FEEDER Filed May 7. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 13, 1932.

PAPER FEEDER M. B. BUSHNELL Filed May '7. 1930 4 sheets-sheet 2 Sept. 13, 1932. M. B. BUSHNELL 1,876,606

PAPER FEEDER Filed May 7. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 13, 1932. M. B. BUSHNELL 1,875,606

PAPER FEEDER Filed May '7, 1930 4 $heets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 13, 1932 rate-tee MYRON BJ USHNE 'L; or nos ANGELES, CALIFORNIA PAI'ER FEEDER Application: filed. May. 7,

The type of feederembodiedin my inven:

tion is that designated as an underfeed inwhich sheets of paper are fed from the bottom of the stack. My invention comprises not only the machine but the method of feeding paper in which a series of'sheets are separated from the bottom of. a stack of sheets and n which the lowermost sheet of this group is quickly fed or snatched from such group,

the action being done by a suction or vacuum facilitating a free withdrawal of the bottom-.

2.; for loosening the lowermost sheet drawing. this sheet downwardly until it is separated system in which the sheets are separated from the bottom of the stack each by rollers and the grouping of. sheets separated are.

maintained in a somewhat loose condition most sheet.

In an underfeed paperfeeder anob'ject of;

my invention is in effecting the feed of the papers by a suction or vacuum arrangement 20 in which the lowermost sheet isloosened from the stack and then is fed outwardly from beneath the stack, and. in this connection another feature and object of my invention is utilizing a vacuum or suction arrangement from the stack and in this operation having means to support the stack of paper andwhen the lowermost sheet is separated from s the stack it is fed outwardly thru the machine,

. Another object of my invention is support; ing a stack of sheetsof paper and withdrawing the lowermost at one edge fromthe bottom of the stack and progressively'separating such sheet downwardly from the stack" and while the lowermost sheet is in process of separation commencing and continuing separating the sheet next above and succeeding upper sheets until-a comparativelylarge number of sheets are in process of separation from the bottom of the stack in an overlap-- ping manner, such sheets when separated from the bottom of the stack resting one upon the other and when the lowermost sheet is completely separated from the" stack it is' fed outwardly rapidly by av quick-acting feeding mechanism before the sheet neXt above is completely separatedfrom the stack;

My invention comprises not merelythe ap- 1930. v Serial N01 450,493.

of paperby this underfeed vacuum or suction system. c I

Afurther object of my invention is sup porting aistack of'sheets of paper on a series of rollers which are arranged totravel continuously rolling underneath the stack of L paper whereby the 'portion of the rollers in. engagement with the stack may be considered as stationary. Such rollers are provided with suction ports, and as the rollers are made i Another object and feature of my invention is an arrangement for outfeeding the sheets which have been separated in series by which as the rollers advance the bottom most sheetis fed rapidly out of the machine by a feeding rollerbefore thesheet next above can drop onsuch roller. The outfeeding roller is arranged so that the edge of the sheet adjacent to the discharge end of the machine drops on this roller and is engaged by an upper idler roller and quickly fed out of the machine, the sheet being fed out is pulled from the bottom of the group of sheetsseparated from the stack. .1 6 A further object and detail of my inven-; tion is cuttingofl the vacuum suction on the sheets'after they have been pulled downwardly into an overlapping manner with the adj acent: sheets whence the continuous forward movement of the rollers causes the separation of a plurality of sheets in sequence from the bottom of the stacki 1 The main constructional features of my invention comprise a suitable frame work with an outer track having an upper and a lower portion, curved-ends, and which is preferably formed of sprocket chains on opposite sides of the machine. These chains engage sprockets on the rollers causing the rollers to roll on the underside of the ,uppersection of the track and on the upper side of the lower sec tion of the track. The rollers are driven in rotation by an endless chain which operates over driving sprockets and engages the lower teeth on the sprockets of the upper rollers and the upper teeth on the sprockets of the lower rollers, thus causing these rollers to roll on the tracks and in: operation to pass underneathfa stack of sheets of paper such stack being supported on some of the rollers.

An added feature o-fi my invention its-an arrangement for shifting the tracks, that is, the outer sprocket chain for varying the pe sition at which the suction ports on the rollers may engage the under'sh'eet of the stack of paper. I

Another feature of my invention embodies the type of valve which connects the various rollers to a vacuum systemsubstantially only at the time when the rollers are engaged in: withdrawing the sheets by suction procedure. This valve is a rotary type and is operated by the rollers passing underneath this valve. The valve has a trip action causing it to enthe succeeding rollers, details of which are set out in more detail hereinunder.

My invention is illustrated in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan of my machine indicating a stack of paper mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation taken in the drrection of the arrow 2 of Fig. 1.

Fi 3 is a side clevaton from the opposite side taken in the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 1 with the sections taken away.

Fig. 1 is longitudinal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5' is a transverse vertical section on the line 5''5 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows. I

Fig. 6 is an elevation partly in section of one of the rollers on an enlarged scale illustratin'g the series of vacuum ports.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line 77 of Fig. 6 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line ti -8 of Fi g. 6 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a'plan View of the valve system taken in the direction of the arrow 9 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 10' is a detailed longitudinal section on the line 10-'1O of Fig. 9 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 11 is a detailed longitudinal section on the line 11----11 of Fig. 9 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 12 is a detailed vertical transverse section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows, showing the drive for the rollers.

The main portions of the machine comprise a frame structure 11 having side plates 12. These are illustrated as supported on legs 13 on a base or floor 14a The plates are indi cat-ed as being secured together by bolts 15 having spacers or the like thereon. At one end of the machine there is a drive shaft 16 having a sprocket 17 and at the opposite end of the machine there are two idler sprockets 18 each mounted on a stub shaft, such shaft being mounted in the side plates. A sprocket chain 19 passes over both of these sprockets and is driven by the sprocket 17 on the driven shaft 16. This may be termed the inner sprocket chain. This chain at its upper run slides-on a supporting guide 20 extending inwardly from each side plate of the machine. Operating on these guides there are a plurality of rollers designated generally at 21,

each roller having a wheel or disk 22 at the end and also a sprocket 23 at each end. The sprockets are engaged by the sprocket chain 19. The lower run of the sprocket chain 19 engage a narrow guide shelf 24, the sprocket chain being below such track.

A movable" track designated generally at 25-is composed of a sprocket chain and the upper run of this chaineng'ages the upper portion of the sprockets oi the upper row of rollers. This chain is prevented from being thrustupwardly by a guide shelf 26 secured to each of the side plates. The lower run of the movable track 25 is supported on bottom guide shelves 27 also secured to each side plate. In order to shift the sprocket chain track 25' there is a transverse shaft 28 at the leading end of the machine having sprockets 29 at each end adjacent the side plates and this shaft is operable by a clutch mechanism designated generally at 30'.

This clutch comprises a grooved wheel 31 which is secured to theshaft 28, this having a pair of handles 32 to allow rotation. A pair of jaws 33 and 34are pivotally mounted by a pivot 35-. The lower ends of these jaws are connected by a bolt 36 having a spring 37 thereon pressing the jaws together. Mounted on this bolt between the jaws there is a cam tube 38. This tube has a cam-shaped end 39 cooperating with the cam-shaped end 34- and is rotatable onthe bolt by the handle 40. This rotation spreads the jaws and allows the rotation of the wheel 31 by the bandles 32 and thus the rotation of the shaft 28 and the sprockets 29, thereby allowin he g u. shifting of the sprocket chain track a slight amount. This is for the purpose of osting theport openings in the tubes to obtain thesuction' at the proper instant.

. The jaw 33 is held stationary by a pin ll at the bottom of this jaw which is mounted on one of the side plates of the machine and on which the jaws may pivot. 1

The machine is driven by a motor which operates an air suction pump 46, creating a partial vacuum in the vacuum tank T7, which tank has a piping connection to the suction rollers. The motor also operates a belt 413 The motor has a belt drive to a pulley 49- Which operates a train of gears mounted in a gear case 50. The shaft 16 is driven from this'gear case at a relatively slow speed.

There is an out feeding roller 51 mounted on a transverse shaft 52, this shaft being journalled in the side plateand having a beveled gear 53 atone endmeshing with a beveled gear 54 on a longitudinal shaft 55, which is located on one of the side plates and con-' nected to a shaft 56 extending from the gear box and having a universal joint 57.

The stack of paper 58 is indicated as resting on top of some of the rollers. A guide or positioning bracket 59 which extends between V the side plates is formed ofan angle against which the sheets of paper are butted. The sheets of paper at the discharge end of the machine incline slightly downwardly as'indicated at 60. There is an out feeding table 61 which receives the individual sheets of paper fed outwardly by the driven feed roller 51 with which roller there isemployed' an idler upper roller 62 engaging the top of the sheets.

The operation of the machine so far described is that as the driving sprockets 17 are slowly rotated the sprocket chain 19 is moved so that the upper run moves in the direction of the out feed of the paper. Altho the rollers rest with their wheels or disks'22 on the guide shelf 20, nevertheless these rollers are rotated so that they slide on the guide shelf, roll on the sprocket track 25, and therefore these rollers roll underneath the stack of paper which is solely supported on the rollers. ,The bottom run of the rollers also roll on the lower run of the sprocket track 25 and are rotated by the lower run of the sprocket chain 19 but in this portion of the run they have no particular function.

The vacuum suction arrangement is substantially as follows and utilizes a control valve designated generally by the numeral 63 and illustrated in particular in Figs. 1, 3, 9, 10 and 11: I a

An arm 64: is mounted on a pivot pin 65 which is adapted to clamp to one of the sides of the machine. This arm has a pair of projecting ears 66 and has a suction block 67. rotatably mounted in bearings formed in the ears 66. The block 67 has segmental cut out sections 68 with enlarged ports 69 opening to these sections, and suction ducts 70 leading radially from these ports to the center. The block has squared faces 71.

The block has an extension 72 with ratchet sockets 73 therein, the suction to the machine is thru a flexible pipe 7 3 connecting to the rigid pipe 74. This latter leads to a suction box 75 which is mounted on the outside of one of the ears 66 and this box forms a housing for a suction tube 76, this tube having an open end extending into the box 75. Such box is closed at its outer end 77 by a cap which is connected to the block 67. The tube 76 has a port'78 which is adapted to register with the'ducts 70 in the block.

The rollers 21 are formed with an outer sheath 7 9 which are provided with a flat surface 80 extending longitudinally and with a series-of hollow cups 81 extending radially inwardly and with ports 82 extending from the base of the cups to the inner wall of the sheath 79'. An inner pipe'83 is rotatably mounted in the sheath 79 having a close fit therewith and is provided with several rows of perforations 84. These rows are of succes= sively shorter length, there being only one row extending substantially the full length of the roller, another row considerably shorter, and the illustration shows a third row with perforations extending only thru the center portion.

The vacuum is created in the inner pipe 83 in a manner hereinuncler detailed,- and the perforations 84 must be in alignment with the duct 82 to create'a suction at the open cups 81. The surface 80 is flattened so that the margin of these cups will bein a plane surface. The inner pipe 83 may be adjusted to have any one of the rows of perforations in register with the duct 82 by means j of a ball 85 mounted in the base of a tube 86 and pressed by a spring 87 which bears against a plug 88 whichis screw threaded into the pipe 83 and has an extension forming a guide forthe tube. The ball may fit in any one of the slight sockets 89 on the inner surface of the sheath 79. This sheath is provided witha segmental slot 90 to accommodate the plug 88 (note Fig, 8). The plug may be pressed by a screw driver or other implement toshift the tube 83 in a rotational manner in regard to the sheath 7 9 and thus bring a long set or a short set of cups-81in registry with the vacuum. supply. This arrangement is to accommodate sheets of width equal tothat of the length of the rollers or of a lesser width. The illustration Fig. 1, shows the sheets of considerably less width than that of the machine.

' Each of the sheaths 79 at one end has a thickened section 91 (note Fig. 11) with a central bore 92 communicating with the in.- terior of the pipe 83 and with a duct 93 leading radially outwardly. This duct'makes a connection with the ports 69 in the block 67 and hence with the ducts 70 and the port 78, and thus is connected to the source of vacuum.

As the rollers are fed in a continuous manner on their upper run adjacent rollers enengage in the ratchet sockets 7 3 so that on rotation of the block 67 the trigger is rotated.

.The trigger has an upstanding end 96 to which is attached a spring 97 connected to the upper end of the arm 64. The trigger also has a projecting end 98 for a purpose hereinunder detailed.

Secured to one end of the suction tube 76 and forming a closer therefor there is a partly rotatable plate 99 to which the trigger 94 is pivoted at the pivot 100, and this plate has a notch 101 thru which the tooth 95 passes. A fixed stop 102 secured to the arm 64 limits the rotation of the trigger 94.

The mat er of operation of the valve is as follows:

As above mentioned, the succeeding rollers come in contact with the block and such rollers are illustrated in Fig. 11 as traveling in the direction of the arrow 103. The duct 93 is beginning to register with the port 69 of the block and will be in communication with the interior of the rollers giving a suc tion, and the roller is indicated as leaving the block with the suction cut off therefrom; As the block 67 is rotated the tooth 95 of the trigger causes the trigger to be rotated with the block rigid to the plate 99 to which it is pivoted. This causes the port 78 in the suction pipe 76 to keep in registery with the air duct 70 in the block 67 for the desired length of time, and the trigger is released by the next succeeding roller striking the projecting end 98 of the trigger which allows the trigger to be rapidly retracted by the spring 97 and in such action retards the plate 99 backwardly, hence the suction pipe 76.

As above mentioned, the wheels or disks 22 are rotated backwardly on the tracks which support the rollers but in order to lessen the frictional resistance these disks are shown as having an outer ring 104 with ball bearings 105 operating on an inner raise 106 connected to a stud 107 on the ends of the rollers, thus the stud is connected to the outer sheath of the rollers (note particularly Fig. 12).

The manner of separating the sheets from the bottom of the stack is as follows having reference particularly to Fig. 4

As above mentioned the sprocket 29 may be rotated so as to shift the sprocket chain track in order that the vacuum cups 69 may come in registry with the bottom sheet at the desired time. In this figure the row of ports are indicated as engaging the bottom sheet ad-' j acent the abutment 59. The suction created causes the bottom sheet to come in effect attached to this particular roller and as the roller rolls underneath the stack of sheets it draws this edgedownwardly so that such edge passes between the roller which is holding the sheet by suction and the next succeeding roller.

The block 67 is arranged so that there is a suction on the sheets for over one quarter of a turn of the suction rollers, which is sufficient to get the leading edge of each sheet pulled downwardly between adjacent rollers. Each roller in succession acts on the sheet which it finds lowermost in the stack and hence as there are a group of rollers supporting the stack at one time there is one sheet for each roller being detached simultaneously from the bottom ofxthe stack. These sheets form into a loose group or pack and are 1 supported loosely on a plate 108 which is located-between the upper and lower run of rollers and is secured at opposite sides to the side plates of the machine.

As above mentioned, the rollers advance comparatively slowly and as the roller approaches the end of a sheet this sheet is drawn down by suction and is partly supported by the roller which is drawing it down until it contacts with the out feeding roller 51 and the idler roller 62 there above. This out feeding driven roller 51 rotates at a higher speed and when the sheet resting thereon is gripped by this roller it is snapped out from underneath the group of sheets resting on the plate 108 rapidly and before the sheet next above can contact with this out feeding roller: Thus, altho there are a number of sheets beingseparated simultaneously from the bottom of the stack, these sheets are fed out singly from the separated group, and altho the suction rollers advance slowly, the sheets may be fed from the bottom of the stack very rapidly depending on the adjustment of the suction rollers and on the speed of the out feeding roller 51.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A paper feeder comprising in combination means to support a stack of sheet paper, means to remove a series of sheets simultaneously from the bottom of the stack, and means to withdraw sheets one at a time from the said series.

2. A paper feed comprising in combination means to support a stack of sheet paper, means to separate a group of sheets from the bottom of the stack, the sheets of said group being separated to various extents, and means to withdraw sheets one by one from the said group.

3. A. paper feeder comprising in combination means to support a stack of sheet paper, means to separate a group of sheets from the bottom of the stack in a successive manner. the lowermost sheet being separated to a greater extent than the uppermost sheets of said group, and means to withdraw the bottom sheets of the group one at a time.

4. A paper feeder comprising in combina tion a continuously rolling means to support a stack of sheet paper, means including part of the supporting means to withdraw'the lowermost sheet from the stack in a substantially vertical direction without lateral movement, and means operative after said lowermost sheet is completely separated from the stack to withdraw said sheet laterally from below the stack.-- l V 5.- A paper feeder comprising in combination a continuouslymoving means to support a stack of sheet paper, a suction means to separate the lowermost sheet from the stack in substantially a vertically downward movement, and means to laterally withdraw the separated lowermost sheet.

6. A paper feeder comprising in combination means to support a stack of sheet paper, a suction means to successively separate sheets from the bottom of the stack to varying degrees in a substantially downward direction withoutmaterial lateral movement of said s eets while being separated, and means operative to engage and remove the lowermost sheet when completely separated from the stack in a lateral direction.

7. A paper feeder comprising in combination a plurality of shiftable rollers, said rollers forming a support for a stack ofsheet paper, means to rotate said rollers while passing underneath the stack, means opera tively connected with each roller to'separate a sheetifrom the bottom of thestack, and means to engage and withdraw thelowermost, completely separated sheet in a lateral direction. I

8. A paper feeder comprising in combination a plurality of rotatable rollers spaced apart, said rollers forminga support for a stack of sheet paper, means to roll said rollers underneath the stack, whereby the portion of the rollers in contact with the paper of the stack is stationary in regard thereto, means operative with each roller to separate the sheet in contact with such roller and to pass the separated end of the sheet between the next adjacent roller, forming a group of.

sheets being simultaneously separated in varying degrees from the bottom of the stack.

9. A paper feeder as claimed in claim 8, means to engage the lowermost sheet of the group after complete separation from the stack and to feed said sheet laterally from underneath the group and from underneath the stack.

10. A paper feeder comprising in combination a plurality of tubular rollers having suction ports and spaced apart, said rollers forming a support for a stack of sheet paper, means to roll said rollers underneath the stack in contact with the paper, each roller being relatively stationary in regard to the portion in contact with the sheet, means to create a suction in each roller to withdraw a sheet from the bottom of the stack in engagement with the suction ports of such when wheels on each roller, a track above an upper set of rollers to engage the sprocket wheels, a movable sprocket chain to engage the sprockets of the rollers to rotate said rollers, the rollers running onthe said track, a series of said rollers being adapted toform a support for a stack of sheet paper, the said rollers rolling underneath the stack, means to create a suction in each roller in succession as it passes underneath the stack to engage and Withdraw the edge of a sheet from the stack, means to relieve the suction afterthe end of the sheet has been passed between two adjacent rollers, whereby a group of sheets are successively separated from the stack, and an outfeeding roller to engage the lowermost sheet of the group when completely separated from the stack and to feed such sheet rapidly laterally. I

13. A paper feeder comprising in combination an endless track formed of sprocket chains having an upper and lower section, a plurality of tubular rollers each having sprocket gears, an endless sprocket chain having an upper and a lower run to engage the-said sprocket chains, whereby the said rollers may roll on the upper and the lower portion of the track, a series of said'rollers being adapted to form'a support fora stack of sheet paper, each of the rollers having a row of suction ports, a valve construction operated by eachroller in succession in its no rolling movement to connect a roller for a predetermined time with a source of partial vacuum whereby each roller may separate the edge of the lowermost sheet of the stack from the stack, and on release of the suction 1 pass such end between adjacent rollers, means to separate the sheets being successively separated from the stack, and an outfeeding roller to engage the lowermost sheet when completely separated from the stack and to feed said sheet laterally from underneath the stack. i

14. A paper feeder comprising in combination a supporting structure having an endless track formed on a sprocket chain hav- 125 ing an upper and a lower portion, an inner movable sprocket chain having an upper and a lower run, a plurality of tubular rollers each having arow of suction ports and each provided with sprockets to engage thetrack N0 and the movable sprocket chain, the movable sprocket chain causing the rollers to rotate against the upper portion of the track, a group of said rollers being adapted to sup port a stack of sheet paper, a rotary valve having a connection to a source of vacuum, said valve being engaged by each roller in succession and connecting the suction ports of such roller with the source of vacuum for a predetermined period, the suction ports of each roller being adapted to engage the lower most sheet of the stack at the infeeding end and to separate such end from the stack, the suction being released when such end of the sheet projects downwardly between adjacent rollers, the said rollers being operative to roll underneath the stack, means to support a series of sheets being successively separated from the stack, an outfeeding roller operating at high speed positioned to engage the end of the lowermost sheet of the series when completely separated from the stack and to feed such sheet rapidly from underneath the series and underneath the stack, the said sheetbeing fed from between two adjacent rollers.

15. A paper feeder as claimed in claim 14, means to shift the endless track to vary and regulate the position of the suction ports in regard to the ends of the sheets.

16. A paper feeder as claimed in claim 14, each roller having a pipe therein rotatable in relation to the roller, said pipe having a series or rows of perforations, each of successively different length considered longitudinally of the pipe, and means to register any row of perforations with the suction ports of the roller to vary the effect of length of such suction ports when passing underneath the stack of paper. A

'17. In the method of feeding paper from the bottom of a stack of sheet paper, progressively and successively separating a series of the bottom sheets from the stack in v a substantially downward direction and the bottom of a stack of sheet paper, successively separating a series of sheets from the bottom of the stack in a progressive manner, whereby the partly separated sheets overlap 1 one another, and rapidly withdrawing the lowermost sheet of the series when completely separated from the stack.

19. In the method of feeding paper from the bottom of a stack of sheet paper, exerting a suction on the lowermost sheet adjacent one edge to separate said sheet downwardly and in a progressive manner engaging the sheets next above by exertlng a suction and separatmg 1n a progressive manner a series of sheets from the bottom of the stack, said.

sheets overlapping one another, the separating of thesheets being substantially in a downward direction without lateral movement in relation to the stack. I

20. In the method of feeding paper as claimed in claim 19, as each sheet is completely separated from the stack, withdrawing said sheet rapidly laterally from underneath the series and from underneath the stack.

21. In the method of feeding paper from the bottom of a stack of sheet paper, successively separating a series of sheets from the bottom of the stack in a progressive manner, such separation being without substantial lateral movement of the sheets, whereby the partly separated sheets overlap one another, and after the lowermost sheet has been completely separated from the sheets thereabove rapidly withdrawing such lowermost separated sheet laterally.

22. A paper feeder comprising in combination, a continuously rolling means to support a stack of sheet paper, said means rolling transversely underneath the stack, means including part of the supporting means to withdraw the lowermost sheet from the stack in a substantially vertical direction without lateral movement, and means operative after said lowermost sheet is completely separated from said stack to withdraw said sheet laterally from below the stack.

23. A paper feeder as claimed in claim 22, the means to withdraw the lowermost sheet comprising a suction means, and said suction means being connected to the continuously moving support.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MYRON B. BUSHNELL. 

